RAIDERS @ Browns Halftime Post

Score: OAK 3 CLE 9

Alright welcome in to the halftime post of the Raiders-Browns game where the Browns lead a field goal at the half.

The Positives

Mack & Moore. Khalil Mack, 3 tackles. Sio Moore, 4 tackles. This is our linebacker corps of the future and if only they had a defensive line to help them, they would've wrecked even more havoc on the edges. They don't have a sack yet though, but the duo has done a great job keeping the Browns' running game in check. I said in my Q-by-Q post that the Browns' running game are awful when in fact they are the 3rd best rushing team in the league. Whoops, but nonetheless, both Mack and Moore have kept Ben Tate in check and the Browns' running game as a whole.

Justin Ellis. He may not have anything in the stat line, but Ellis is showing why the Raiders selected him in the 4th round as a space eater Nose Tackle. There was one play when the Browns were in the red zone that he just blew by the Browns' offensive line and almost got a handful on Brian Hoyer. Aside from Mack, Carr, Jackson, and Carrie, Ellis is also trying to make his mark for this 2014 draft class starting in that defensive tackle spot in place of Pat Sims.

The Negatives

Maurice Jones-Drew, 5 carries, 7 yards. MJD looked really old out there so far. He couldn't get on the edge like he used to or make tacklers miss due to his small size. Our 1-2 punch of McFadden and Jones-Drew has gotten off to a slow start and it reflects why the Raiders are last in the running game.

Offensive play calling. Honestly, how did we go from throwing bombs against a good Chargers to become more conservative? I don't see Carr being put on shotgun formation to launch the ball deep, they've totally regressed going back to a vanilla-style play calling and Greg Olson plays a big part in that despite Sparano taking over the reins.

Bottom Line

Well, it's only 3 points at least. The defense has to continue to keep the Browns' offense in check and the Raiders' offense has to get going. This half is critical if the Raiders really want to get on that win column and end a long losing streak dating back to last season.